JONAH AND GENRE IN "RESIGNATION B"

Resignation B is the title generally applied to the second half of a longer text, Resignation, found in the 10C Exeter Book. The poem is anonymous and undated, and was not recognized as a second piece, and a separate poem, until recently. The poem presents special problems of interpretation, with the speaker not explicitly identified. It has been argued that the work can only be understood as the lament of a specific character from a recognized narrative. Suggests the narrative of the biblical story of Jonah, and presents arguments to support its connection to the poem. (Quotes from original text)